The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29

truth. lie nau, moreover, trained 1t by
fellowship with the Lord. So the rug
ged character of Peter, the logical and
analytic mind of Paul, the affection of
the Marys, all felt the molding power Of
that life. The rulers had no sympathy
with Christ, nor the populace, nor He
rod and Plate. They, like the soldiers
at the cross, may have been terrified by
supernatural appearances, but they had
no heart to appreciate the sweetness
and beauty of the Redeemer's charac-
ter. But when one does, then his SER
vice is delight, toll pastime, and
even death is welcomed exultingly,
from love to Christ. The world is seen
with new vision, and life becomes sa-
cred. This is the appeal of the gospel.
'Behold the Lamb of God" Men adj
mire speaking statue, a pulsating pic
ture, the charm and majesty of a great
voice, but Gods Word presents the
sublimest and most enticing motive in
''the only begotten of the Father, full
of grace and truth" Did he choose to
do SO, God might make the grand
aerial currents that sweep the heavens
articulate his call to worship his we'll
beloved Son; but it is not his method.
He shows the glory of the cross to man,
and to those who believe, Christ is prec-
ious.
2. The glory of the Saviour is spec
tally seen at the cross and in the sup
per which commentaries his passion.
We are wont to regard the sacrament
as sad scene, and sit at the table with
Bonded brow and silent lip. / do not
say that this is not wise, yet nowhere
else is Christ more glorious. He was
not killed, as multitudes have been, in
defense of the truth, for he might have
repulsed death. He voluntarily went
through Gethsemane. He, to whom
miracle was natural and death unnat-
ural, laid down his life freely. He
loved the race that repealed him, even
the enemies who slew him. He called
no cohorts of angels to his side, but
gave his back to the smiters. The
Greeks said, 1--WE would see Jesus"
and he replied, eff be lifted up, will
draw all men unto me-" He was lifted
up. Jew and Greek saw the glory of
his sacrifice browning him with incon-
ceivable luster. And so the cross is
now the signal and standard of the
church, everywhere most imminent and
immortal. We do not wonder that
some have entertained the idea that the
wafer was really Christ and the wine
his blood-fction though it be--when
the enTapturing revelation of his grace
had been so wildly made. 1t seemed
as if they held him in their hands as
we'll as in their hearts. The wonder
rather is that any heart can be so tough
and stubborn as to turn coldly away
from the feast he spreads.
Finally, it is thus that we may ap-
proach Christ in his inimitable perfec-
lions. We cannot parallel his power,
match his wisdom, reproduce the vast
ness of his thought or the splendor of
his person, but we can, in the progress
of character, 'grow in grace" and SO
into his likeness. He was born into
this world little child. No sound was
heard on earth, but there was melody
in the heavens. So in our birth into
the kingdom of God. AS he grew in
favor with God and man, we may come
into the complete manhood of Chris
tian life. 1t is not vehemency Of Or
thodoxy, disputatious zeal, or fierce
championship of truth, any ethical or
polemic attitude against error, that is
to win his praise, but the reproduction
Of his character in it's unity and COM
pleteness. That character, like the SUM-
light which beauties the earth and
turns every drop of water to pearl,
gave luster to the minutest detail of
common life. So Christ may be en-
throned and regnant in every act of our
hands, in every thought of our lives.
In German churches you may have seen
picture of Luther, the leonine, with
the legend beneath, 1.-THE Word of God
is not bound" and at the other end of
the building, perhaps, the face of Mel
ancthon with the words, "God is love-"
The sweetness and grace of Christ is
ever needed to consecrate intellect, lead
ership, power of all sorts. Science,
commerce, literature and art are all to
be tributary to the glory of Christ. AS
spring follows winter, and its balmy
breath changes the bank of ice to bloom
and fragrance, so will grace conquer
and transform character. When the
personal, positive and eternal power
and glory of Christ are revealed, Chris
tian experience becomes as normal and
spontaneous as is the response Of the
earth to the vernal sunshine. Prayer
and praise become our natural speech,
and fruit bearing our natural condition,
just as June brings the birdesong to the
air and the flowers to the field. If we
yield to the grace and truth Of Christ,
he becomes beautiful death, too, beau
tiful, for it brings us immortality. 1t
will introduce us to the open vision of |